Easel frame



J. C. MURFF July 19, 1955 EASEL FRAME Filed July 16, 1952 United States Patent EASEL FRAlVlE James C. Murif, Junction, Tex.

Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,079

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-156) My invention relates to improvements in easel frames for pictures, photographs, or mirrors.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a dustproof easel frame in which a picture, photograph, or the like may be mounted and held flat at the back thereof without nailing a backing panel to the frame or fasteners for such a panel.

Another object is to provide an easel frame having the above advantages and which is stronger than ordinary frames of commerce and will prevent pictures therein from being damaged from the back of the frame, for instance, in storing, or moving.

Other and subordinate objects, within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved frame, in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, according to my invention, an oblong, rectangular frame 2 is provided including ends 3, a top 4 and a bottom 5 which may be connected together by mitre joints as shown.

The usual internal flange 6 extends in said frame 2 along the ends 3, top 4 and bottom 5 at the front side of the frame 2 for retaining a picture 7 in said frame at the front side thereof. The frame 2 may be formed of any suitable material such as wood, or plastic.

A backing panel 9 for the picture 7 is fitted in the frame 2 behind the picture 7 and which may be formed of cardboard, or fibreboard.

A pair of transverse cross bars 10 are provided in the frame 2 at the ends thereof and in the rear of the panel 9 and which engage and back the ends of said panel 9. Means are provided for mounting the crossbars 10 in the frame 2 for sliding therein to engage the outer side edges of said bars with the ends 3, said means forming a dusttight seal between said crossbars and frame 2 at said ends of the frame.

The above mentioned means comprises an internal groove 11 in the frame 2 adjacent the rear side thereof extending along the ends 3, top 4 and bottom 5, and a tongue 12 on the ends and outer side edge of each crossbar 10 slidably fitting in the groove 11 at the top 4 and bottom 5 of the frame 2 and adapted to slidably enter said groove 11 in the ends 3 when the outer side edges of the bars 10 are engaged with said ends 3.

At the bottom 5 of the frame 2 the slot 11 is provided, in the transverse center of said frame 2, with a rear entrance opening 13 for entering the crossbars 10 in the frame 2, or removing the same therefrom, in a manner presently described.

A rectangular locking panel 14 is provided for insertion between the crossbars 10 to hold the same tightly engaged at the outer side edges thereof with the ends 3 of the frame 2. The locking panel 14 is slidable upwardly between said bars 10 in grooves 15 in the inner side edges of said bars 10, whereby to interpose said panel between said bars 10 and slide its upper edge into the groove 11 in the top 4, as shown in Figure 3. The locking panel 14 is formed of cardboard, or fibreboard, or other suitable semi-flexible material, and when fully inserted the bottom edge 16 thereof overlaps the bottom of the frame 2 as shown in Figure 2. As will be seen, a dustproof seal is formed around the locking panel 14 by the side edges thereof engaging in the grooves 15, the top edge engaging in the groove 11, and the bottom edge 16 overlapping the bottom 5 of the frame 2.

If desired, a rectangular reinforcing panel 18 for the backing panel 9 may be fitted in the frame 2 between the crossbars 10 and between the backing panel 9 and the locking panel 14. The reinforcing panel 18 may be formed of heavy gauge cardboard, or fibreboard.

An easel leg 19 is detachably mounted between longitudinal rear flanges 24 on the inner side edges of the crossbars 16 by means of a cross-rod 21 on said leg 20 having a stud 22 on one end thereof rotatably fitted in an opening 23 in one flange 20, the other end of said rod 21 being attached to the other flange 20 by a screw 24, the arrangement being such that the rod 29 is freely rotatable about an axis parallel to the plane of the frame 2 so that the leg 20 may be inclined as desired to support the frame 2 at any desired inclination while resting on its bottom 5.

To mount the picture 7 in the frame 2, said picture is first inserted therein and the backing plate 9 then positioned in said frame. The crossbars 10 are then entered in the frame 2, one at a time, by inserting the tongue 12 at the upper end of each crossbar into the groove 11 in the top 4 and swinging the lower end of the bar inwardly to enter the tongue at said lower end into the groove 11 in the bottom 5 by passing said lower end through the entrance opening 13. The crossbars 10 are then slid into engagement with the ends 3 of the frame 2, the reinforcing panel 18 is positioned between said bars in the frame, and the locking panel 14 inserted between said crossbars in the manner described. Then the stud 22 of the crossbar 21 is inserted in the opening 23 and the other end of the rod 21 attached by the screw 24. To remove the picture 7, the cross-rod 21 is detached by removing the screw 24 and removing the stud 22 out of the opening 23. The locking panel 14 is then slid from between the crossbars 1i), and the reinforcing panel 18 removed from between said crossbars. The crossbars 143 are then slid, one at a time, into alignment with the opening 13 and each bar removed by swinging its lower end out of said opening and sliding its upper end out of the groove 11. The backing plate 9 and picture 7 may then be removed rearwardly out of the frame 3.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, Without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an easel, a picture frame having ends and a top and bottom, and a picture backing panel fitting in the frame, means for retaining the backing panel in the frame comprising a pair of cross bars in the frame, means Patented July 19, 1955-.

slidably mounting the .erldsrof said cross bars in the top and bottom of said frame behind said backing panel for separative lateral movement into engagement with said ends, a locking panel fitting between the separated bars behind said backing panel to maintain said bars engaged with said ends, and longitudinal edge grooves in said bars slidablyreceiving said locking panel, said bars being adapted to support an easel leg.

'2. The'combination of claim 1, said second named means comprising internal grooves in said frame extendof the frame forming dust seals when said bars are engaged with said ends.

4. The combination of claim 1, said bars having longitudinal rearwardly extending edge flanges thereon forming hand grips for sliding said bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,229 Servuss V Jan. 12, 1904 951,921 Spencer Mar. 5, 1910 1,208,965 Hommelet a1 Dec. 19, 1916 1,743,190 Champlain Jan. 14, 1930 1,979,081 Schott Oct. 30, 1934 2,282,864 Glenn May 12, 1942 2,401,241 Grobholz May 28, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 267,912 Switzerland Apr. 30, 1950 

